Apparatus for folding fabrics



July 20,1965 w. F. 'SOUTHV-IE,LL ETAL 3,

I APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed may 6, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTORS WYNDHAM F. SOUTHWELL BY NICHOLAS WEHRMANN July 20, 1965],, w.F. 'SOUTHWELL ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS s Sheets-Shet 2:

Filed May 6, 1965 on: Sum vn mm 1Q F w .9 who 111. TtSm u ow Tm E 8m vnm wJmN m mm mm Hg m a M: I.

Tmfl w 2 n n l u k A t. m9 h 1 S E w: 3 18 23 on v2 5 mm 92 82 02 on m:

"INVENTORS WYNDHAM F. SOUTHWELL BY NICHOLAS WEHRMANN W4 ATT RNEYS July20, 1965 w. F. SOUTHWELL ET AL 3,195,883

I APPARATUS FUR FOLDING FABRICS I Filed May 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Il l v WYNDHAM F.

BYNICHOLAS WEHRMANN July 20, 1965 w. F. SOUTHWELL ETAL 3, 5,

I APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS I Filed May 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I20I22 I '58 I24 12 I27 M156 2.6uo '26 o "I "28 I I24 I22 7 I24 \1 II 428INVENTORS 15g WYNDHAM F. SOUTHWELL NICHOLAS WEHRMANN BY FIG. 9 FIG, /4 ny. IATTOR EYs "V July 20, 1965 w. F. SOUTHWEL L ETAL 3,195,883

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed May 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 15

INVENTORS WYNDHAM F. SOUTHWELL Y NICHOLAS WEHRMANN M, mw g we,

July 20, 1965 w. F. SOUTHWELL E'T'AL- 3,195,883-

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed May 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 18FIG. /9

WYNDHAM F gfiwfifi FIG. I 7 BYNICHOLASI WEHRMANN W J 2)) ATTfi/VEYS y 0,1965 w. F. SOUTHWELL ETAL 3,195,883

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed Ma 6, 1963 8 sheets-sheet '7 FIG. 2oI INVENTORS WYNDHAM F. SOUTHWELL BYNICHOLAS WEHRMANN July 20, 1965 w. F.SOUTHWELL ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed May 6, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I? IFIG. 24 FIG. 22

INVENTORS WYNDHAM F1 SOUTHWELL BYNICHOLAS WEHERMANN 3,l%,883 APPARATUSFUR FGLDENG FABRHJS Wyndham F. Southwell, Wiiltesboro, and NicholasWehrrnann. North Wilkeshoro, N.., assignors to L d: L Manufacturing,inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 277,996 6Claims. (Cl. 2761-79) This invention relates to improvements inapparatus for folding fabrics and similarly foldable materials and, incertain of its more specific aspects, to apparatus that willsimultaneously feed and fold a multiplicity of strips of material ofvarying widths and thicknesses.

In the production of knitted, woven or otherwise formed strips of fabricor other material, it is often desirable to complete the manufacturingprocess by folding the material in preselected lengths for cutting,storage, shipping or for use in other work stations. It is accordinglyimportant that no stretching or wrinkling of the material be done whilethe mate-rial is being laid-up. Moreover, when fabric is laid up as itcomes from a preshrinking operation, it is important that it be handledin a manner such that the shrinkage control characteristics thereof arenot adversely affected.

Present day apparatus used for folding one particular width andthickness of material often knowingly or unknowingly induceslongitudinal stresses in the material being folded.

Furthermore, while apparatus adapted for the folding of a strip ofmaterial of one particular width, thickness and composition has beenavailable, apparatus for the simultaneous feeding and folding of amultiplicity of strips of material of varying widths, thicknesses andcompositions has not heretofore been available.

This invention is accordingly directed toward providing a mechanismwhich will accurately feed and fold foldable material in a Zig-z-agmanner, and which is readily adaptable for folding materials ofdifferent thicknesses, widths, and/ or compositions.

It is a further intent that this invention will provide means to smoothand press the folds of the material in a manner that will preventwrinkling, stretching or distortion of the material and that each foldwill lie immediately above each other.

In certain of its aspects, moreover, the invention contemplates theprovision of a mechanism adapted to simultaneously feed a multiplicityof strips of varying widths and/or thicknesses, and fold such strips ofmaterial in a uniform manner.

It is contemplated that this invention will provide a mechanism which iseconomical of construction, easy to precisely adjust to varyingrequirements, and to be trouble-free in operation and performance.

The invention is exemplified in connection with apparatus which providesa feeding means to transport a fabric strip to a distributor armassembly. A pair of swinging dependent distributor arms in parallelarrangement carry between them at the dependent end a pair ofoppositelyturning rollers spaced apart so as to permit free passage ofthe strip of material. In accordance with the invention in certain ofits aspects, the rollers are driven at a faster peripheral speed thanthe feeding speed of the strip of material. delivery arm is equal to thedelivery speed of the material so as to avoid a drag of the strip by themovement of the arm. As the strip is moved to folding position, a paddleelement is raised above it so that a loose fold can be accomplished andthen, as the distributor arm moves away from this fold the paddle islowered so as to engage and press the fold of material.

Preferably, the movement of the end of the.

United States Patent In certain of its aspects, moreover, the presentinvention provides paddle elements with guide means movable in verticalguideways so that each paddle as it is raised and lowered always movesin a vertical manner. Preferably each paddle is formed with a flatpressing surface extending at right angles to the vertical guideways.The pressing surface of the paddle, as it is raised and lowered,approaches and presses each just-formed loop of material into a fold.The vertical approach of the paddle causes the fold to be formed withoutexerting a back and forth movement of the paddle on the fold. For onestrip of material a single paddle on each end is required, whereas whena plurality of strips are to be folded, separate paddle elements ofsuitable lengths are desirably used. A lift element operating insynchronism with the distributor arm raises the paddle or paddles on oneend to a selected height. The lift element then lowers the paddle orpaddles to the last material fold at whatever height that may be, afterwhich the lift element no longer supports the paddle but itself proceedsto the low point of the operating cycle. The invention accordinglycomprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, andarrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructionhereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will beindicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the folding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top view showin' the folding apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showingthe distributor mechanism in a different portion of arc;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the flow of the fabric when thedistributor mechanism is at one end of its arc;

FIG. 5 is a similar view with the mechanism in the cen tral portion ofthe arc;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the dependent end of the distributor armtaken on the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an L-member;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an L-member guide assembly;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a paddle;

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the paddle of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a paddle guide rod;

FIG. 13 is a partial side view showing the paddle assembled to the guiderod;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a guide assembly for the paddle guiderod;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the folding apparatus showing an embodimentadapted for folding multiple strips of material using multiple paddles;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the folding apparatus taken on the line16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partial isometric view of a lift bar thereof;

FEG. 18 is an isometric View showing the back of an upright guideassembly thereof;

FIG. 19 is an isometric of a paddle construction thereof;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the apparatus showing a further paddleembodiment for folding one or two strips;

FIG. 21 is a partial end view of the apparatus taken on the line 21-21of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a partial isometric view of a lift bar bracket assembly usedtherewith;

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of an adjustable guide bracket for use onthe bar of FIG. 22; and

ice

FIG. 24 is a partial isometric view of a'paddle and guide rod for usewith the apparatus of FIGS. 20-2 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, one embodiment is shownin FIGS. l-l4 wherein a frame support structure, generally designated as10, is construced using apair of upright members 12' with a tie element14 connecting the upper ends of themembers. A' second pair of uprightmembers 16 are located a short distance from end members 12 with a tieelement 18 joining the upper ends of these uprights 16. A pair of basemembers 20 are joined to members 12 and'16. and form part of the bottomsupport unit. An end element 22 acts as a base tie and spacer for oneend of the frame while on the other end a similar end elements 24 isused as a basev and tie for the frame. A pair of short uprights 26extend upward and terminate with a cross tie element 28 which joins theuprights 26 together; In the particular embodiment shown the frame maybe made 3 x 3 x A I inch angle iron of welded construction.

Within frame a pair of roller support plates 30 are disposed a shortdistance below tie elements 12 and 16 and are secured to each tieelement by means 'of gusset plates 32. Carried by plates 30 are threefeed rollers 34 Y which support and continuously feed a strip ofmaterial 7 36 which is to be folded. The strip 36 as exemplified isaknitted fabric in tubular form with the sides ly-ing' one above theother and still'connected ,at their longitudinal edges. Attached to theroller support plates 30 are bearpresent instance, is controlled byapreceding operation or apparatus, and sprockets 42 and chains 46.,Since each of the sprockets are-of thesame pitch and number of teethand, as in the present'instance, the three feed rollers 34 are also ofthe same size, the rollers 34 will turn at an equal speed and willtransport the fabric strip 36 at a predetermined forward speed. i

The distributingmeans in the exemplified embodiment includes twoT-fra-mes 50 supported on journals 52 extending through support plates30. The journals 52, in the present instance, are reduced ends of thethird feed roller 34. These T-fr ames 50 are supported at the junctionof the T and are made independent of the movement of the roller 34 bymeans of a bearing 54 located in the T-frarne "most satisfactory.

i 7 Roller 60 is constructed the same size as roller 62 and is driven atthe same speed by means of a pair of matched gears'72 having an equalnumber of teeth, one gear 72 being mounted on each roller 60 and 62.Gears 72, being in mesh with each other (FIG. 7),

, turn toward each other.

. which transmits power to a driven sprocket 80. 'Being a direct ratiodrive as shown in FIG. 1, and being a chain and sprocket drive,,sprocket80 isv caused to rotate in a selected timed relationship with roller 34.The sprocket 80 ismounted on a shaft 82 which is supported by a pair ofhangers $4, one hanger being attached to each support r and whichmay,'for. the-adjustment to the swing of arm 58, be inverted in aselected one of a series of holes 94 spaced in a line on arm 58. Ithas'also been found desirable, in the present instance, tomake arm 90adjustable in length so .as to more precisely control and adjust theswing of the arm 58 to an equal amount on both sides .of a theoreticalvertical position. Pitmanarm 90 therefore, in the exemplifiedembodiment, has been made in two elements designated as 90a and 90b. Aseries of equally spaced holes 96 in both pieces are arranged so thattwo bolts 98 are able to fastenrthe elements 90a and 99b to provide anarm 90- of desired length. Theselection of a hole 94 in arm 58 and theassembly, of arm 90 by bolts 98 in holes 96 as selected enable theoperator to precisely adjust the amount of swing of arms 58, as well asequalizing the swing of the arm to equal amounts on each side of thevertical position. The near pitman arm 7 Was seenin vFIG. l is driven bythe sprocket 80 while 59. In the present instance, the T-fram-c s aredisposed outside of support plates 30. A pair of arms 56 form the topbars of the T-frames 50, which, as exemplified,.swing together in an arcof approximately thirty-eight degrees on each side of the vertical. InFIGS. 1 and 3 this degree of swing is indicated with the ends of thearms 56 shown in phantom outline. By locating theT-f-rames 50 outside ofthe support plates '30 the frame can beswung about the arms 56interfering with the strip 36 as it is carried on the rollers 34. Thedepending portion of each T-frame 50 is in the. form of -a swing arm 58which has its lower 7 of the shaft 82- as the stud 88 in sprocket 80.The stud end arranged to support one end of a pair of oppositely turningdistributor rollers and 62 between which the strip 36 is fed. In thearrangement shown, the rollers 60 and 62 are arranged so as to provideapproximately one;

quarter inch space between so as to permit the free passage of a fabricstrip 36 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 6 the rollers 60 and 62 havetheir ends reduced forming journals which turn in bearings 64. As shownin F IGS. 1

and 2 the power to turn rollers 60 and 62 is derived from 88 on thesprocket and the stud88 on-the crank arm 100 are alsomounted so as tohave a common axis.

The apparatus described above controls the movement of the strip offabric 36 insuch a manner that the strip is delivered to thefoldingoperation in' an even and smooth manner; The speed of the strip 36 isthe speed at which it is deliveredto the three rollers 34. The strip isthen transportedat that same :delivered speed on the three rollers 34whereupon it then extends downwardly toward the lower end of the swingarm 58 where, be-

tween rollers 60 and62, the strip is fed to the folding operation. Asthe arm 58 is caused to be swung back and forth, the strip willalternately cont-act either roller 60 or 62 depending on the directionof swingof the arm 58. As'described above, rollers 60 and 62 revolve. ata peripheral speed in excess of the speed of the strip,thereforethe-strip ,between'the lastroller 34. and the contacting roller60- or 62 will be maintained in "a' relatively taut condition during themajor portion of each swing, and the excess speed of the roller 60"or.62 will urge the strip from the roller so that the strip that haspassed the roller 60 or 62 will be effectively dispensed for zigzaglayup folding. i

As one complete swing of arm 58 will cause one length of strip to bedispensed, it is important to a smooth, wrinkle-free lay-up that eachfold be held and pressed in the laid up position, and that this justdeposited length be held in fixed relationship to the previously placedlengths. To hold the deposited strip 36 in position and to assist insmoothing the fold, there is provided a movable pressure platecontacting each fold area. In the present instance these plates arecalled paddles for the sake of convenience.

It is important that the folding mechanism perform its function in timedrelationship to the movement of the dependent arm 58. In the preferredembodiment the T- frame 50 is arranged so as to utilize the arms 56forming the top bar of the T-frame so as to activate in a positivemanner the lifting of the paddles. The arms 56 extending at right anglesfrom arm 58 each have near their outer end a series of holes 102.Through one of these holes 102 is placed a clevis pin 1114 which is usedto hold a clevis end 1116 in pivotal relationship to lever arm 56. Athreaded hole is formed in the clevis end 106 so that a rod member 108may be threaded and screwed into the clevis end 106. A pivot block 110or clevis, having an oppositely threaded hole, is screwed onto the otherend of rod 108. The oppositely threaded ends of I the rod 168 enable therod to act as a turnbuckle adjuster. As seen in FIG. 2, there are fourrods 1% used in the exemplified apparatus.

The lower end of the paddle operating mechanism is maintained in fixedrelationship to the swing of the arm 58 by providing adjustablylocatable guide means acting in cooperation with the paddles. AnL-shaped member 112 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 8) is preferably formed from ametallic bar having a square cross section which, in the presentinstance, is made of a three-quarter inch square bar. A pivot pin hole114 is formed in the short leg of member 112 through which a clevis pin104 is inserted to pivotally connect L-member 112 to pivot block 110. Aguide tube assembly 116 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 9) provides a guide and locatingmeans whereby L-member 112 is permitted to move only in a verticalmanner when lifted and lowered by the swinging of arm 56. The assembly116, as exemplified, comprises a square tube 118 of metallicconstruction and having .a square passageway 120 therethrough. In use,the tube 118 is made square and straight, and has been found to providea satisfactory sliding fit for member 112 when the passageway 1211 isapproximately thirteen-sixteenths inch square. Two spacer blocks 122 areattached to one of the outer sides of the tube 118. These blocks 122 arearranged in a selected fixed spaced relationship with each other andwith the top of the tube 118. A U-guide and slide block 124 is attachedto each spacer block 122 with the open part of the U facing outwardlyand at right angles to the axis of tube 118. A cover plate 126 isattached to the U-block by means of screws 127 closing the top of the U.A rectangular passageway 128 is thus formed by the U-block 122 and theplate 126. A locking screw 13% is engaged in a threaded hold formed inplate 126. The inner end of the hole opens into the passageway 128 sothat screw 130 may be turned into the passageway 123. A rectangularguide bar 131 is of a size so as to be slidable in the passageway 128 ofthe assembly 116. In the embodiment shown, two guide bars 131 are usedon each longitudinal side of frame 10. Each pair of bars 131 are mountedin spaced, parallel relationship on uprights 12 and 26 by means or" anattaching belt 132 on each end of a bar 131'.

A paddle 133 made of aluminum, wood or other suitable material is shownin FIGS. l0, l1 and 13. In the instant exemplification the paddle 133 isconstructed of aluminum sheet material approximately one-eighth of aninch thick and is formed with a flat pressing section 134. A stiffeningrib 136 is formed by turning upwardly then inwardly each lengthwise edgeof the fiat section 134.

These stiffening ribs provide the necessary rigidity to section 134 sothat the paddle will press with its own certain additional Weight, ifnecessary, without untoward or excessive bending. The stiffening ribs136 also provide a means of providing a smooth front and back edge tothe section 134. A turned tab end 133 is formed on each end of thepaddle 133 by turning downwardly a small portion of the fiat section134. An attaching hole 149 is constructed in each tube end 1355. AT-shaped paddle guide rod 142 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and in thepreferred embodiment is made of three-quarter inch square metallic rod.A top bar element 144 is made of a length adapted to fit under andsupport the paddle 133 and, as shown, is constructed approximately thesame length as the width of the fiat pressing section 134. A guidesection 146 joins the center of the top bar element 144 and, as shown,forms a common plane with the top bar element. A bolt hole 143 is madethrough the top bar element 144, the hole being spaced from the top ofthe bar a distance equal to the distance of hole to the underside offiat section 134. A bolt 150 and a nut 152 are used to assemble oneguide rod 142 to each end of the paddle 138. When the bolt and nut aretightened the top of bar element 141 abuts the underside of fiat section134 so that guide section 146 is rigidly held at substantially rightangles to the paddle 133.

A paddle guide assembly 154- (FIG. 14) is constructed so as to provide avertical guide means for the guide sec tion 146. As shown, a guide tube156 is of similar size and construction to square tube 118. The guideway158 is similarly square and in the preferred example isthirteen-sixteenths inch square. A pair of U-guide blocks 124 areattached to one side of the guide tube 156, the blocks 124 being in thesame spaced relationship and at right angles to the axis of tube 156 asthe blocks 124 on assembly 116. A cover plate 126 is attached to eachU-block 124 by means of screws 127, the cover plate closing the top ofthe U and forming a rectangular passageway 128. Locking screw 130 isalso provided in each plate 126 as in assembly 116. When mounted on thepair of rectangular guide bars 131 as in FIG. 1 the guide assembly 154provides an adjustable guide means for maintaining the paddle 133 in apreselected location yet provides a means whereby the paddle may belifted and lowered in a vertical manner.

A folded pile 169 (FIG. 1) is laid up in a Zig-zag manner as strip 36 isdistributed from the end of the swinging arm 58. A support surface forthe successively placed layers or" material that forms the pile 1611 isprovided by a table top 162 which in the present instance is supportedby legs 1114. It is to be noted that the table top 162 preferablyextends beyond both ends of frame 11 however, the table top is madenarrower than the distance between the L-members 112 so that readyadjustment of the paddle operation mechanism may be made with theminimum elfort.

As the pile 161) is being formed, the paddle 133 is caused to bealternately lifted and lowered in a reciprocating manner. To insure thateach fold is made even and wrinkle free, while also maintaining theintervening measured length in a smooth and unstretched condition, thepaddle 133 is moved in a controlled manner tower the fold being made. Inthe exemplified embodiment the paddles 133 move in a vertical path whilethe material being piled lies horizontally on the table top 162.Accordingly paddle guide assembly 154 is clamped in a vertical positionon guide bars 131 and guide section 146 is inserted therein. Paddle 133is now free to be lifted up and lowered, as controlled vertically byguide assembly 154.

As noted previously, the guide assembly 116 is constructed with tube 118spaced away from guide block 124 by means of spacer 122 so that guideway120 is farther from the bars 131 than the guideway 158 of paddle guideassembly 154. L-member 112, when inserted in a guide on bar 174.

' 7 way 120,-is thus able to be brought under paddle 133 withoutinterferring with T-guide rod 142 and, when activated by the swing ofarm 58, contacts paddle pressing surface 134 and lifts the paddle to thephantom outline shown in FIG. 1. As L-member 112 is lowered, the.

paddle 133,.resting thereon, will move downwardly until the paddleengages the pile 160 whence the paddle will stop and L-member 112 willcontinue to move downwardly to its low point just above guide assembly116.

In certain applications of this equipment it is desirable tosimultaneously feed and fold a plurality of strips, often of differentwidths, and frequently of different materials and/or thicknesses. A formof apparatus arranged to simultaneously fold three strips of differentwidths is shown in FIGS. 15 thru 19. The apparatus as described above isunchanged except as indicated below. To convert to the multiple foldingof strips, the paddles 133 are removed by lifting them out of guideassemblies 154 and L-members 112 are disconnected from pivot blocks'110and removed from guide assemblies 116. In the multiple foldingof strips,the guide assemblies 154 are not used but are left on guide bars 131 ata location which'does 7 not interfere with the other paddle operations.

As exemplified in FIGS. 15 and 16 three strips of -material 36a, 36b and360 of different widthsare shown folded as piles 16%,1601; and 1611c ontable top 162.

The feeding and piling of the strips is the same'as de-' material 36a,36b and 360 may be of different thicknesses,

the piles16tla, 16012 and 160s often reach dilferent heights atdifferent times, which requires that. the paddles for pressing the foldsoperate independently ofeach other. A lift bar 170 (FIGS. 15, 16 and 17)of a generally U- shape has two downwardly directed square guideelements 172. Thetwo guide elements 172 are attached at one end to asquare'cross bar 174. Short extension arms 176 are attached to eachguide element 172. Ahoie 178 is made in each arm 176, the hole 178 beingadapted for use with pin 104. The lift bar 170 is brought into positionand each element 172 is inserted into a guideway'120 of a guide assembly116 on each' side of the apparatus. In the present instance, as shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, six uprightguide assemblies 180 are mountedon each'bar174. Each guide assembly 180 (FIG. 18) comprises an upright guide bar182 attached to or made a part of a U-slide block 184. A cover plate 186has a tightening thumb screw 188 engaged in a threaded hole in eachplate 186. Attaching screws 191) are used to fasten plate 186 to theopen side of the'U, the cover platel86 and U-block 184 forming apassageway 192 adapted to slide Three paddle assemblies 194a, 194i) and194s are used with each bar 174. Each paddle assembly (FIG. 19) V eachtab end 200, each tubehaving a square guideway I 204 therethrough, theguideway being at right angles to the pressing surface element 196. Itisto be noted that the tab ends 200 are formed with an offset 2136extending behind and above element 196. This offset 206 is constructedsothat when the paddle assembly 194 is slidably mounted on'a pair ofupright guide bars 182 the offset 206 with tube 202 attached is disposedabove the under partof element 196'an amount sufiic'ient for bar174 withguide assembly 180 mounted thereon to rest on table top 162 whilesimultaneously the under surface of press- '36e forming piles 160d and160a. FIGS. 1,-14 as disclosed above is used with the exceptlon ingsurface element 196 also restsion the same table top 162. V

j sun another form of ap paratus is shown in FIGS. 20

through 24. In this form ofconstruction, the paddle can be readilyarrangedfor'operat-ion in connection with the-folding of a single stripor of two strips either of the same width or of unequal widths such as36d and The] mechanism of of the paddles 133, L-members 112 and guiderods 142. The guide assemblies ISA-are removed from bars 131, and theguides 116 are-arranged and clamped on bars 131 near the position of thestrip' fold.flAn inverted U-shap ed lift bar 210 (FIG'..22), asshown isformed with a cross piece 211 and a pair of parallel square guideportions212' adapted to slide freely in passageways 120 of guides 116.Attached to each portion 212 and forming a paddle retainer and supporttherewith is a .U-bracket 214,'having an'upper horizontalfportion 215over which the clevis 110 fits,.and pin 104 is' inserted-into the clevisso as, to engage the under portion of the horizontal portion215. f 1

Slidable on the cross-piece 211 of bar 210 is aguide block assembly 216,which-includes'U-block 218 with a channel formed in-one face. coverplate 220 is attachedto the. block by means of screws 222 andformstherewith a slide guideway 224 of a size to be readily slid along thecross piece 211. Engaging a threaded hole in' plate 220.is a lockingscrew 226 whose inner end is adapted to enter guideway 224 and engagecross piece 211- so as.,to lock the assembly 216 at the'desired positionon the. cross piece. Also located in block 218 are 7 two rod guideways228 for a rod to be hereinafter described. i

Operating in conjunction with each bar 210 is a pair or paddles 230(FIG. 24)'which, in,-thepresent instance,

are of aluminum andof. the same size in cross-section as paddles 133described above, butslightly shorter as shown. Attached at theinner endof eachpaddle and extending upwardly is a guide rod 232 whichin thepreferred instance has the upper end threaded.' The paddle 230 ismounted with the outer end extending through the opening between portion.212 and bracket 214, andwith therod 232 passing through .and freelySlidable within a guideway 228. A nut 234'is mounted on rod 232 and-isadjusted so as to level paddle 230 as it rests on the lower horizontalportion 235 of bracket 214. It is to be noted in FIG. T21 that the innerends of the paddles 230are arranged so that there is approximately oneinch between these ends of the paddles, permitting'the paddle'sito reston pilesof different heights. It is to be noted that paddles 230.aremade of sufiicient length so that either one or the other of 'a-pair mayrest on a single pileof fabric'the'operating width of the/table, the;other paddle of such pairb'eing removedin this instance. As shownin,-FIG. 21, howeven-the paddles are extending outwardly beyond itsbracket 214.

arranged so that the right-hand portion of the left-hand paddle rests onthe .wider pile 160d and the left-hand portion of the right-handrpaddlerests on the narrower pile 160e, with the outer end portion. of eachpaddle Use and operation In the exemplified illustration the strip orstrips of material 36 is transported from a previous process or storagesource'by means of a trio of feed rollers 34. As

7 the material is fed at a preselected speed, the pitman arm is causedto move at aspeed regulated by the rotation of the rollers. It is to benoted that the pitman arm movement is a translation of a' circularmotion described slowing of the arm 58 during the time the fold is beingmade permits an adequate amount of material to be dispensed to make asmooth regulated fold. The strip 36 after leaving the last of therollers 34 is directed downwardly between rollers 60 and 62 which aremounted on the end of the swinging arm 58. The rollers 60 and 62 aredriven at a surface speed approximately twice the speed of the movingstrip. The excess speed of these rollers causes the strip to be pulledtaut from the last roller 34 to the contacting roller 60 or 62,. Theexcess speed additionally insures that the traveling material isprevented from congesting at the end of the delivery arm and that thematerial is deposited smoothly to the table top 162 or pile 160. Thestrip as it is deposited is laid in predetermined lengths as controlledby the extent of the swing of the arm. As the arm 58 moves toward theextremes of its swing, the paddles 133 or 194a, 1941), and 1940 or 230is lifted to the phantom outlines shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and or as shown inFIG. 20, as the case may be, the lifting of the paddles being by meansof the upward swing of arm 56. At the apex of its swing the arm 58carries rollers 60 and 62 overtop the paddle and with the slow movementof arms 58 and 56 and with the constant delivery speed of the strip thematerial is caused to billow under the paddle in a soft loop. As thedelivery arm 58 moves away from the end of the swing the paddle iscaused to be lowered smoothing and pressing the loop of material into asmooth fold of material.

As the operation is repeated the paddle is lifted and lowered smoothingand pressing successively each fold of material, the paddle loweringonly as far as the top of the pile of material. Meanwhile, on theopposite end, a similar paddle is moving and operating a hundred and Ieighty degrees out of phase.

In the apparatus shown and described above there are provided preciseadjustments whereby the length of the pile 160 can be predetermined andset by the operator. The length of the material from fold to fold ismade by adjusting the stroke of the arm 58. The paddle is then moved toa position just over the fold. The relocation of the paddle is made byloosening the lock screws 130 and moving guide assemblies 116 and 154 onbars 131 until the paddle just covers the fold of the fabric, afterwhich the lock screws 130 are tightened. The adjustment of the I lift ofthe paddle from the table top 162 to the height desired by the operatoris made by moving clevis 106 to whichever hole 102 is desired and thenturning the rod 108 for the final adjustment.

When a plurality of strips 36a, 36b and 360 are to be dispensed andfolded each paddle 194a, 1941) and 1940 is selected of greater lengththan the strip being folded. As shown, each paddle is mounted on andslides on a pair of guide assemblies 180 mounted on lift bar 1'70. Theguide assemblies 186 are arranged in the desired locations by firstloosening thumb screws 183, moving the assemblies as required on crossbar 174 then reclamping the assemblies 180 by tightening the thumbscrews 188 against bar 174. All the paddles 194 on one lift bar 170 aremoved to accommodate the folds being made. The paddles are repositionedover the fold by moving oppositely disposed guide assemblies 116 onguide bars 131. To adjust the assembly 116, the locking screws 130 arefirst loosened, and the assembly 116 is moved to the desired position onguide rods 131 and then reclamped by tightening locking screws 130. Thepaddle-lifting height is adjusted as outlined above. When a pile ofmaterial has reached the maximum or desired height the operator pullsthe folded pile from under the apparatus which then proceeds to makeanother zig-Zag folded pile of material.

To arrange the apparatus for two strips as in FIGS. and 21, the screw226 of guide assembly 216 is loosened and the assembly moved laterallyon bar 211 until each paddle is over the end of the strip being folded.

The assembly is then clamped by tightening screw 226. The otheradjustments for guide assemblies 116 and the swing of arm 58 isperformed in the manner described above. No adjustment of assembly 216is necessary to change over to run a single strip in this apparatus ifthe two paddles 230 on one side are to be operated as one when pressingand folding a single larger strip.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Folding apparatus for strip material, comprising means for providinga material-supporting surface at a preselected fixed position, means forlaying-up a strip of material in zig-zag folded arrangement on saidsupport surface, said laying-up means including a swinging arm and apair of spaced-apart inwardly-turning rollers mounted on the end of saidarm in generally horizontal relationship with each other, means to feeda strip material between said rollers, means to turn said rollers at asurface speed at least as great as the speed of the strip material fedthereto, at least one pair of paddles each adapted to be moved upwardlyand then permitted to move downwardly to engage and press a just-formedfold of said strip material, and means operating in timed relationshipto said swinging arm to alternately operate the paddles of a pair topress the folded-over edges of said strip material on each side while afold on the other side is being provided by said laying-up means.

2. Folding apparatus for laying-up traveling strip of material inzig-zag folded arrangement comprising means providing a support surfacefor the folded material at a preselected fixed position, aswingably-mounted distributor arm assembly, means for swinging said armassembly, adjustable means for controlling the extent of swing of saidarm assembly to control the extent of fabric between folds, a pair ofspaced rollers mounted on the end of said arm in generally horizontalrelationship with each other, means to rotate said rollers inwardly attheir upper surfaces at a surface speed not less than the effectivespeed of the feeding means, at least one pair of movable paddles movablebetween upward and downward positions and adapted to engage and pressthe just formed folds of strip material, means operable to lift eachpaddle while a fold is being made and operable for the lowering of thepaddle to fold engaging position, and means to operate thelast-mentioned means in timed relationship to the swinging of thedistributor arm assembly.

3. Folding apparatus for traveling strip material comprising meansproviding a support surface at a given height, means swingable over saidsurface for simultaneously laying-up a plurality of strips of materialin zig-zag folded arrangement in piles disposed in edgeto-edgerelationship on said surface at said height, means for feeding aplurality of strips of material in generally edge-to-edge relationshipto said swingable means, means for pressing the folds at the respectivesides of the material in one pile as it is laid up, other means forpressing the folds at the respective sides of the material in anotherpile as it is laid up, means for synchronously positioning at the sameheight all the positioning means at any one side and for permitting themto drop each individually to whatever particular height may bedetermined by the particular height of a pile of a particular stripthereunder, and means to move all the pressing means on the same sidedownwardly simultaneously.

4. Folding apparatus for traveling strip material comprising meansproviding a support surface for the material at a given height, meansfor simultaneously layingup each of a plurality of strips in piles inzig-zag folded e esee arrangement in edge-to-edge relationship'on saidsupport surface attsaid height, a presser member movable towardthe'just-formed fold at each side of one vof said strips to engageandpress the same while a fold at the other side is being made, anadditional presser member movable toward the just-formed fold at eachside of another of said strips to engage and press the same while a foldat the otherside isbeing made regardless of the relative heights of therespective piles, and means at each side for synchronously positioningat the same height thepressing members at that side and for per-'mitting them to drop each individually to whatever height may bedetermined by the particular height of a pile of'a particular stripthereunder. 1 v

5. Folding apparatus for traveling strip material comprising meansproviding a material-supporting surface I disposed at a preselectedfixed position,; meansswingable over said surface for simultaneouslylayingup a plurality of strips in a zig-zag 'folded arrangement in pilesdisposed in edge-to-edge relationship, means for feeding a plurality ofstrips of material in generally edge-to-edge relationship to saidswingable' means, means at each side for pressing the folds of thematerial in one .pile as it is laid up,- other of the material inanother pile as it is laid up, and means t for synchronouslypositioning-the the s same height all means for pressing the folds thepositioning means at any one side and for permitting them to drop eachindividually to whatever, particular height may be determined'by theparticular height of a pile of a particular strip thereunder. t 1 6.Folding apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the support surface for thematerial is disposed at a preselected fixed position. I

' References Cited by the Examiner V- V UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,264

EUGENE R. CAPOZIOi rim/ Examiner.

1. FOLDING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL, COMPRISING MEANS FOR PROVIDINGA MATERIAL-SUPPORTING SURFACE AT A PRESELECTED FIXED POSITION, MEANS FORLAYING-UP A STRIP OF MATERIAL IN ZIG-ZAG FOLDED ARRANGEMENT ON SAIDSUPPORT SURFACE, SAID LAYING-UP MEANS INCLUDING A SWINGING ARM AND APAIR OF SPACED-APART INWARDLY-TURNING ROLLERS MOUNTED ON THE END OF SAIDARM IN GENERALLY HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, MEANS TO FEEDA STRIP MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID ROLLERS, MEANS TO TURN SAID ROLLERS AT ASURFACE SPEED AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE SPEED OF THE STRIP MATERIAL FEDTHERETO, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF PADDLES EACH ADAPTED TO BE MOVED UPWARDLYAND THEN PERMITTED TO MOVE DOWNWARLDY TO ENGAGE AND PRESS A JUST-FORMEDFOLD OF SAID STRIP MATERIAL, AND MEANS OPERATING IN TIMED RELATIONSHIPTO SAID SWINING ARM TO ALTERNATELY OPERATE THE PADDLES OF A PAIR OTPRESS THE FOLDED-OVER EDGES OF SAID STRIP MATERIAL ON EACH SIDE WHILE AFOLD ON THE OTHER SIDE IS BEING PROVIDED BY SAID LAYING-UP MEANS.